Over 1,30000 people call for justice after murder of Costa Rican turtle defender - Economic Times

Vijay Singh, TNN Jul 31, 2013, 05.59PM IST MUMBAI: More than 130,000 individuals from 150 nations have signed a petition to Costa Rican embassies and consulates calling for the arrest and conviction of those involved in the murder of Jairo Mora Sandoval, a Costa Rican sea turtle biologist. The signatures were delivered by Humane Society International India, the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, Turtle Island Restoration Network and other conservation organizations. Jairo was a 26-year-old biologist working to protect nesting sea turtles from poaching and other threats on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in Moin. He was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by at least five armed criminals on May 30. Four women - three Americans and a Spaniard - we re also kidnapped but escaped uninjured. The petition calls on the Costa Rican government to commit police protection to beaches where poaching and narcotics trafficking pose a significant threat to the safety of sea turtles, conservationists and tourists. It also calls on the federal government to expedite the investigation and ensure Jairo's killers are swiftly brought to justice. The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network http://www.widecast.org/, which employed Jairo at the time of his murder, has had to suspend it program to protect sea turtles and their eggs from poachers on a critical nesting beach while the killers remain at large. They report that Costa Rica's Caribbean beaches have seen an increase in sea turtle poaching since the murder forced an abrupt halt to protection efforts. Like Costa Rica, India is home to sea turtle nesting beaches that are protected by the efforts of dedicated conservationists like Jairo Sandoval. HSI India wildlife experts work with community teams to protect olive ridley sea turtle nests in Orissa. N G Jayasimha, managing director, HSI India said "We hope these signatures send a strong message to poachers around the world that violence against those who protect our natural resources will never be acceptable. We stand strong with our companions in Costa Rica in urging their government to swiftly bring Jairo's murderers to justice." Todd Steiner, a wildlife biologist and executive director of SeaTurtles.org. "It's been nearly two months since Jairo was murdered and there are still no arrests. We call on the government of Costa Rica to redouble its efforts to find Jairo's killers and ensure the safety of the conservation community who have dedicated their lives to protecting the environment on which we all depend."< /p> In addition to the petition, conservation and animal protection organizations including HSI have organized a Jairo Mora Sandoval Reward http://www.seaturtles.org/donateforjustice, which has grown to more than $56,000 and a Jairo Mora Sandoval Memorial Fund, which has grown to more than $10,000. via Science - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHDdFe82V3CAdGY5DZzmzG6CMq2Bw&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Over-130000-people-call-for-justice-after-murder-of-Costa-Rican-turtle-defender/articleshow/21508571.cms

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